Our Most Frequently Asked Personal Injury Questions
Q: Bills are piling up and it’s creating stress. Is there any help I can get now, while I’m unable to work or while I’m going to the doctor?
Likely yes. Eliminating added stress and burden is what we do. We know what questions to ask and where to look for help. We will work with you to get you the help you need now.
Q: Am I going to end up with less money in my pocket by hiring a lawyer?
Maybe. We believe in doing what’s right, no matter what and will tell you if you do not need a lawyer – free of charge. We only take cases if we believe our services will help you receive greater benefits than you would without a lawyer, and we’ll tell you if an attorney is likely not needed or recommended.
Q: The adjuster is offering me a settlement. Is it fair?
Probably not. The adjuster has financial incentives to minimize your recovery. There are many ways the adjuster tries to do this. One way is to minimize your medical bills by counting only what health insurance has paid at a reduced rate and not the full charge for the bill, which the law requires. Also, be very wary of adjusters offering to settle a case early, before you have finished recovering, especially in the case of a spine or head injury. In most cases, you have four years from the date of the accident to settle or file your claim.
Q: If my car is totaled in a collision, will I be treated fairly on the property damage claim?
Unfortunately, the answer is often ‘no’. When another driver wrecks your car beyond repair, his/her insurance company should pay you the actual cash value of your car before it was totaled. The industry standard definition of actual cash value is “replacement cost” minus “depreciation.” Insurance companies often try to cherry pick the most insurance-friendly numbers. The insurer also should pay for the sales tax on the new vehicle that you purchase with the insurance company.
Q: What are the categories of damages I can recover as part of a settlement?
- Lost wages and income, even if your time off was covered by personal time off (PTO) or sick leave
- Full charges of all medical care received
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Inconvenience
- Permanent disability, impairment, scarring
- A spouse or parent’s loss of consortium (If death has resulted, damages are calculated differently)
Contact Our Knowledgeable Attorneys For More Information
If you have additional questions for our knowledgeable personal injury lawyers, please call 402-817-2717 or 800-655-9606 toll free to schedule a free initial consultation. You may also contact Atwood, Holsten, Brown, Deaver, Spier & Israel online. With offices in Lincoln and Omaha, we serve clients in Nebraska and Iowa.
